There are six types of conflict that will be explored during this unit. In literature, conflict is the central issue and makes the story move. Conflict drives a story forward and grabs the readers' attention. Short stories have one conflict, while novels have many. Literary conflict includes internal conflict, also called character versus self- conflict, and external conflict which includes character vs. character, character vs. nature, character vs. society, character vs. fate, and character vs. technology. The way conflict is used and how the conflicts are resolved are all determined by the type of story being told.
Types of conflict we will be studying: Internal Conflict- Personal Internal conflict is that which exists inside the character. Every good character suffers from the weight of internal conflict. It is what makes them believable and credible. Internal conflict is necessary for good characters, but it's the least complicated form of conflict. 1. Character vs. Self External Conflict- Outside force Unlike internal conflict, external conflict deals with the problems of the world. They story's characters will struggle against the circumstances of external conflict, they may even suffer internal conflict resulting from the issues of external conflict, but this is not as simple as internal conflict. External conflict occurs when characters are involved in the world's woes, such issues as community, nature, government and other characters are all examples of external conflict. External conflict manifests itself as character vs. character, character vs. nature, character vs. society, character vs. technology, and character vs. fate.
2. Character vs. Character 3. Character vs. Nature 4. Character vs. Society 5. Character vs. Fate 6. Character vs. Technology
Definitions Character vs. Self- Struggles with morality, fate, desire, belief, and many other issues. This form of conflict is central to the character, or characters and must be resolved by the character alone. In the Lion King, Simba experiences a character vs. self struggle. Should Simba live out the hakuna matata lifestyle or return to reclaim his throne? Lion King Video Clip
Character vs. Character- The most fundamental type of external conflict. This form of conflict occurs when a character struggles against another character. These struggles may be born from moral, religious, or social differences and may be emotional, verbal, or physical conflicts. It is almost always the conflict present when a hero fights a villain. This type of conflict may be present alone, or in conjunction with other external conflicts. Star Wars is an example, where Luke Skywalker's fight with Darth Vader is a character vs. character conflict but also hits a character vs. fate dilemma.
Character vs. Fate- Occurs when a character is compelled to follow an unknown destiny or path. A character vs. fate conflict can often lead to a character vs. self conflict. For example: Is Luke Skywalker's fate or destiny to become a Jedi? Star Wars Video Clip
Character vs. Nature- When a character, or characters find themselves at odds with forces of nature. A character struct by lightning, characters whose boat sinks in a storm, and a character who struggles against hypothermia in a snow storm are all characters experiencing character vs. nature conflicts. Cast Away Video Clip
Character vs. Society- This type of conflict occurs when characters struggle against the morals of their culture and government. It works where characters battle evil, oppressive cultures show this. Example: In the novel Fahrenheit 451, a fireman whose job it is to burn books, secretly collects them. Fahrenheit Video Clip
Character vs. Technology- Places a character against man-made objects which may possess "artificial intelligence." This type of conflict often brings about the question of, "Just because we can, should we?"
While conflict in literature can be complex, knowing the basics is key to understanding how conflict is built and how it affects the story. These elements of conflict can appear both individually and together with one another, but one of them must exist for the story to exist.
Conflict in Literature
There are six types of conflict that will be explored during this unit. In literature, conflict is the central issue and makes the story move. Conflict drives a story forward and grabs the readers' attention. Short stories have one conflict, while novels have many. Literary conflict includes internal conflict, also called character versus self- conflict, and external conflict which includes character vs. character, character vs. nature, character vs. society, character vs. fate, and character vs. technology. The way conflict is used and how the conflicts are resolved are all determined by the type of story being told.
Types of conflict we will be studying:
Internal Conflict- Personal
Internal conflict is that which exists inside the character. Every good character suffers from the weight of internal conflict. It is what makes them believable and credible. Internal conflict is necessary for good characters, but it's the least complicated form of conflict.
1. Character vs. Self
External Conflict- Outside force
Unlike internal conflict, external conflict deals with the problems of the world. They story's characters will struggle against the circumstances of external conflict, they may even suffer internal conflict resulting from the issues of external conflict, but this is not as simple as internal conflict. External conflict occurs when characters are involved in the world's woes, such issues as community, nature, government and other characters are all examples of external conflict. External conflict manifests itself as character vs. character, character vs. nature, character vs. society, character vs. technology, and character vs. fate.
2. Character vs. Character
3. Character vs. Nature
4. Character vs. Society
5. Character vs. Fate
6. Character vs. Technology
Definitions
Character vs. Self- Struggles with morality, fate, desire, belief, and many other issues. This form of conflict is central to the character, or characters and must be resolved by the character alone. In the Lion King, Simba experiences a character vs. self struggle. Should Simba live out the hakuna matata lifestyle or return to reclaim his throne?
Lion King Video Clip
Character vs. Character- The most fundamental type of external conflict. This form of conflict occurs when a character struggles against another character. These struggles may be born from moral, religious, or social differences and may be emotional, verbal, or physical conflicts. It is almost always the conflict present when a hero fights a villain. This type of conflict may be present alone, or in conjunction with other external conflicts. Star Wars is an example, where Luke Skywalker's fight with Darth Vader is a character vs. character conflict but also hits a character vs. fate dilemma.
Character vs. Fate- Occurs when a character is compelled to follow an unknown destiny or path. A character vs. fate conflict can often lead to a character vs. self conflict. For example: Is Luke Skywalker's fate or destiny to become a Jedi?
Star Wars Video Clip
Character vs. Nature- When a character, or characters find themselves at odds with forces of nature. A character struct by lightning, characters whose boat sinks in a storm, and a character who struggles against hypothermia in a snow storm are all characters experiencing character vs. nature conflicts.
Cast Away Video Clip
Character vs. Society- This type of conflict occurs when characters struggle against the morals of their culture and government. It works where characters battle evil, oppressive cultures show this. Example: In the novel Fahrenheit 451, a fireman whose job it is to burn books, secretly collects them.
Fahrenheit Video Clip
Character vs. Technology- Places a character against man-made objects which may possess "artificial intelligence." This type of conflict often brings about the question of, "Just because we can, should we?"
Jurassic Park Video Clip
My Sister's Keeper Video Clip
While conflict in literature can be complex, knowing the basics is key to understanding how conflict is built and how it affects the story. These elements of conflict can appear both individually and together with one another, but one of them must exist for the story to exist.